Chatterley Whitfield: pithead baths complex (18-21)

Pithead Baths Complex at Chatterley Whitfield

This pithead baths complex comprises three principal buildings of 1936–37 designed in Modernist style by the Miners' Welfare Committee: the pithead baths (building 18), canteen (building 19), and medical centre (building 20). These were supplemented in the mid-20th century by a mine rescue centre (building 21) and a single-storey annexe, formerly used as a photographic laboratory.

Construction and Materials

The buildings are built on a reinforced concrete frame encased in red brick, with internal walls of brick and blockwork. The parapets feature decorative brickwork with concrete copings. Some single-storey sections have concrete cantilevered overhangs. The flat roofs are concrete and bitumen felted, with pitched steel-framed rooflights in places.

Plan and Layout

The complex follows an irregular L-shaped plan, with a single-storey range extending to the west. The main building is principally two storeys, dominated by a three-storey square tower and a single-storey entrance range to the south that also accommodated the canteen and medical centre.

Exterior

The south elevation presents the single-storey entrance range, with the canteen to the right terminating in a curved end that incorporates five four-light windows with metal frames. To the left of the entrance, a continuous four-bay window with distinctive glazing extends across the range. Behind this entrance projects the two-storey pithead baths, extending northwards. Its south elevation features a tall three-light stair window at first-floor level, with mullions expressed in brick within a recessed brick panel rising from the window head to the wall top. The range widens at the rear of the entrance bay before extending eastwards at two-storey height to a three-storey square tower that stands forward of the main range. The tower's east side wall incorporates a tall transomed window extending nearly its full height. An L-shaped single-storey range to the west, formerly darkroom facilities for the colliery laboratory, is lit by metal-framed top-hung casements. The mine rescue centre of 1950 is attached to the north-east corner of the canteen.

Interior

The entrance hall is partly clad in grey glazed tiles and displays a commemorative wall plaque marking the building's construction. Doorways to either side provide access to the former first-aid centre and the canteen. The canteen features a serving counter running almost the full length of the room and is fitted with a suspended ceiling.

The two-storey pithead baths are served by reinforced concrete staircases at each end, with brick-faced stairwells and lower walls finished in grey glazed tiles. Wall-mounted drinking fountains are mounted in the lobby by the south staircase. The ground floor contains a spine corridor with rooms opening from it, formed by blockwork and glazed partitions. The first floor is divided into three principal areas, two of which retain shower stalls and double-tiered slatted steel lockers. The shower area has walls clad in white tiles and is subdivided into cubicles distinguished by different coloured tiles. Many stalls retain their original metal coat hooks, though shower heads and associated pipework have been removed. The shower attendants' office preserves its window hatch and key cabinet. The mine rescue centre was not inspected internally as of 2013.